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He leans up on his elbow and looks at me "Are you okay?"

"Mmm" I moan in satisfaction "More than okay But just a little stiff," I add

He chuckles, then kisses me softly and tellseach place where the rope cut intoout my limbs

He picks me up and carries me to bed, then eases up to spoon behind h, lost in the pleasure of being so well attended to I feel spoiled and cherished More than that, I feel safe

For a moment, we are silent, but as , I cannot keep er

"Damien?"

"Yes?" His voice is tired Sleep will soon be upon both of us

"What was your father talking about? Why do you need to be squeaky clean?"

He is quiet for so long that I holdmy chain," Damien finally says But that is not the truth, and I’m certain that Damien realizes I know it

"Da about his eyes tells me that this is it If I press, he will tellthe truth, it’s about Daain "How did you knohere to findThen I see the sh it does not reach his lips He cups my head with his hand and looks at me with an expression of such adoration it takes my breath away

"Don’t you know, Nikki? No s are deliciously sore when I wake Saturdayfor Da in bed--after all, at some point he has to come back--but the lure of coffee wins out and I head for the kitchen

The man knows me well, because the note he left for s cae of you naked and bound, spread wide for me, is burned into my mind I expect that I will find it difficult to concentrate Ime so …

I se before heading through the door in the back that connects the apart the maze of hallways and find reets me with a smile